Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisVery hardReading a percentage change correctly
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A newspaper reports that a town's crime rate 'doubled' last year. The police figures show 2 burglaries the year before and 4 last year, in a town of 20,000 people. Which statement best evaluates the report?
- A. The report is arithmetically true but misleading, because a change from 2 to 4 is too small to show any real trend.Correct
- B. The report is false, because 4 is not double 2.
- C. The report proves that crime is rising sharply.
- D. The report understates the increase.
Answer: A. The report is arithmetically true but misleading, because a change from 2 to 4 is too small to show any real trend.
Tiny counts double easily by chance.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. The report is false, because 4 is not double 2.
- 4 is double 2.
- C. The report proves that crime is rising sharply.
- Two extra burglaries is not a sharp trend.
- D. The report understates the increase.
- Doubling is the full increase.
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